o|ver|run

o|ver|run «verb. _OH vuhr RUHN; noun. OH vuhr _RUHN», verb, -ran, -run, -run|ning, noun.

–v.t.

1. to spread over and spoil or harm in some way: »

Weeds had overrun the old garden. The conquering army overran the village.

SYNONYM(S): invade, ravage, infest.

2. to spread over: »

Vines overran the wall.

3. Figurative. to run or go beyond; exceed: »

He overran third base and was tagged out. The speaker overran the time set for him.

4. Printing. a) to carry over (words or lines of type) into another line or page to provide for addition or removal of other matter. b) to remake (columns or pages) by carrying over words, lines, or pictures.

5. to run over; crush: »

Like a gallant horse fall'n…O'errun and trampled on (Shakespeare).

6. Archaic. to outrun; surpass: »

Atalanta…overran A white high-crested bull (William Morris).

–v.i.

to run over; overflow; extend beyond the proper or desired limit.

–n.

1. an amount overrunning or carried over, such as a balance or surplus; an excess: »

The principal problem…has been the overrun in the capital expenditure of the uranium mies (Economist).

2. the act or process of overrunning.

–o´ver|run´ner, noun.